Vehicle-wheel.



No. 878,266. PATENTED EEB. 4, 1908. G. W. T. AKEHURST. VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 27, 1907.

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attunudfspoke sockets, 8, which project from the rim vtion within the chamber, 3, this hub has two `provement which will hereinafter be particuarly described.

Iand the axle arm, 14, projects throng said "UNITED srnrns PATENT GFFICE.

specincation of Letters recent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed February 27, 19Q7. Serial No. 359.542.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE W. T. AKE- HURs'r, a, citizen of the United States, residing at White Marsh, in the county olf-Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to im rovements in wheels in which the wheel-hu has a cushioned movement independent of the wheel structure.

The improved wheel is of similar character to that for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 827,494 was granted to me July 31, 1906 and the object of the present invention is to provide certain features ofl im- Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel with portions of the wheel broken away to show the internal con struction. Fig. 2 'is a diametrical crosssection through the wheel. Figs. 3 and4 are sections on a larger scale of the hollow or chambered head and hollow-hub movable within the chamber. Fig 5 showsa broken perspective view on la larger scale of a dustguard for the hub, which 1s seen in Fig. 2 on a smaller scale.

Referring to the drawing, a hollow metal head comprises two circular side-plates,1 2, which form a circular chamber, 3. These, plates have a central opening, 5, and laterally-projecting flanges around said o ening central opening. On the circumferential rim of the plates are projections, 4, having and receive the spokes, 9.' The rim of .the wheel may have any approved construction. An improved hollow circular hub has posiyside Walls, 23, anda circular rim wall,` 24, which has a peripheral exterior groove, 18, around it, and a centerbore for the axle arm. An annular channel, 7, is around the interiorof. the circular chamber, 3.

Both side walls of the hollow movable hub are provided with. a number of circular openings, 20, arranged in. a circle around the cen ter bore wherein the axle-arm fits. Bolts, 21,'ex-tend from one outside circular plate, 1,. to the other outside'circular plate, 2, and these bolts pass freely through the olpening, 20, in the hub these openings are re atively l very much larger than -the said bolts, 21. T wofriction rollers, 25, are on each bolt and the two rollers are separated by a sleeve, 26, also on the bolt. lt vwill be seen that the friction rollers are in position where they may contact with the rim-edge of the circular opening, 20.

A special construction of neumatic tube or ring, 19, is provided wit 'n the circular circular rim-wall, 24, of t e hub and the circular wall of thechamber, 3. -This pneumatic ring around its inner side is providedwith a number of bolts, 27 projecting inward radially; these bolts are secured in the rubber wall of the tube at the time of vulcanizing. Around its outer rim the pneumatic ring has a thick circumferential-flange, 28, and pins, 29, are secured in the said thick flange and proj ect radially outward. The inner part of the pneumatic ring, 19, iits in the exterior groove, .18, around the hollow hub and the small bolts, 27, projecting inward from thev said ring are secured to the rim wall,r 24, -of the hub by nuts, 80, on the bolts. These bolts secure the neumatic ring to the movable hub, 12. he thick flange around the outer art of the ring fits in the annular channe 7, and the pins, 29, projecting outward from said flange fit in holes in the two circular plates, 1, and, 2, as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and'4 and secure the pneumatic rin to the said plates and prevent any rotarys 'ppage between the lring and plates.

By reference to Figs. Band 4, it`will be seen that one side,for instance the lower chamber, 3, and is inter osed between-the side,-of the ring may be -collapsed or partly op osite ltact with the edge of the circular openings,

20, and thereby a slight rotary movement of the hub occurs and. a relief is afforded to the shock that follows striking-.the obstruction'.

The opening on the outside of the Wheel which gives access Ato the nut on the axlearm, is closed by a cap, 17, as inthe patent herein referred to, but on the insideof the wheel l now provide an improved dust guard to cover the said opening. This improved dustguard is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. lThe roo central annular llange on the outside plate, 2, 1s provided with an inside annular groove,

' 31, and the movable hub, 12, which has a of suitable material.

center bore for the axle-ar1n, also has a icentral boss, 32, onthe side of the hub and this projecting boss has a surrounding groove', 33, which is in the same vertical plane as the inside groove, 31, on the plate, 2. The guard itself, shown in Fig. 5, consists of two flexible rings or hoops, 34, and, 35, the iirst one large enough to itsnugbT in the insidegroove, 3l, and the last one smaller but of proper size to lit tightly in the groove around the central boss, 32. The Jawo rings, 34, and, 35 are connected by means of an. annular fabric, 36, rlhis fabric allows a certainflexibility or yield of the two rings,

that is of one ring relative to the other. It will'be seen the flexible annular fabric, 36, closes the hub opening at the inside of the wheel around theaXle, and serves as a dust guard. Having thus described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent'is,- y f l l. A vehicle wheel having a central chamber provided with an annular wall a hollow hub in said chamber and having perforated side Walls; bolts passing through the annular wall and also through the perforations in the side walls of the hollow hub; rollers on said bolts to contact with the circular walls of the perforations, and a 'cushionin means interposed between the hollow hu and the wall of the chamber.

2. A vehicle wheel having outside plates forming a chamber; a circular movable hub having two side walls and a hollow space between and fitted in said chamber and said walls provided with a series of circular openings, 20, arranged in a circle around the center ofthe hub; a bolt, 2l, extending from one outside plate through a circular opening y in the hub to the other outside plate; two friction rollers on each bolt to contact with the rim-edges of the circular openings in the hub, a sleeve, 26, on the bolt separating the two rollers and a cushioning means'between the outside plate and circular hub.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my,signatureA in presence of two witnesses. y l

GEORGE W. T. AKEHURST.V

Witnesses:

CHARLES B. IvlANN, Jr., G. FERDINAND Voer. 

